A Snowstorm hits Hawaii

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On Monday, a historic winter storm pounded Hawaii with hurricane force winds, massive waves, and snow in some unusual places. Maui was blanketed in snow at altitudes as low as 6200 feet--the lowest snowfall since 1952. At the 10,023-foot summit of Maui's Haleakala volcano, many world-class telescopes were frozen solid.

"We were finally allowed into Haleakala National Park to get to the Haleakala Observatory," reports Rob Ratkowski, who photographed the scene. "About a foot of snow fell creating black ice that was a danger to vehicles. When we arrived today we saw much ice attached to buildings, observatories and fences."

The Haleakala Observatory was Hawaii's first astronomical research and development facility. Managed by the University of Hawaii's Institute for Astronomy, the summit is home to the ATLAS asteroid impact early warning system, the Air Force's Maui Space Surveillance Complex, the Pan-STARRS asteroid and comet survey telescope, and (under construction) the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope--the most powerful solar telescope in the world, capable of studying the sun's surface, corona, and magnetic fields in unprecedented detail.

These and other telescopes on the summit may not thaw out until next week. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Haleakala that does not expire until Friday: "A mix of wintry weather is expected early Wednesday, and then again on Thursday, making travel to Haleakala Summit extremely dangerous."

Source: http://www.spaceweather.com

Article includes some great photos.

Seems like a lot of places got hit the same as recently around 1952.

Some of those volcanic peaks are thousands of feet above sea level and see some snowfall every winter. Doesn't affect the low lying areas. Don't worry, lowland Hawaii is still very much tropical.

Hilo is down in the 50's.

Snowbirds must be pissed.